Classifier and separator.



C. ALLEN- CLASSIFIER AND SEPARATOR,

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 81:917-

Patnted Mar. 19:, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET i- IN VEN TOR hamies fliiem,

WITNESSES:

C. ALLEN.

CLASSIFIER AND SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JANKB. 1917.

1,259,79. Patented Mar. 19,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: IN V EN TOR CHARLES ALLEN, OF EL PASO, TEXAS.

GLASSIFIER AND SEPARATOB.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

Application filed January 8, 191 Serial No. 141,154.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES ALLEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at El Paso, in the county of El Paso and State of Texas, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Classifiers and Separators, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices used in mining for separating solidsand liquids in the treatment of pulp and slime's; and has for its objectto render the discharge orifice of the settling or separating tankadjustable and to make all parts which are subject to wear easy ofremoval and replacement.

In devices of this type an inverted coneshaped tank or a tank that is acombination of cone and cylinder is employed, the apex of which carriesa spigot for the discharge of the settling solids, the liquid andsuspended particles overflowing the top of the tank. Pulp is fed in acontinuous stream to the tank. It is desirable to vary the size of theopening of the spigot for different conditions of operation in orderthat the discharge of solids may be in proper proportion to the rate ofsettlement. This I accomplish by providing a swinging plate carrying two'spigots of different size m0vable into place beneath the apex of thecone and both removable from a socket in the plate, whereby other anddifferent sized spigots may be substituted and worn ones replaced. Alsoin devices of this kind as heretofore constructed. the valve eitherseats interiorly of the cone on the upper face of the spigot or if onthe lower face it is so fixed that it cannot be conveniently replaced,or without interruption of the normal operation of the cone, and sincethe wear in a device of this kind occurs almost wholly on the valve andspigot the device rendered useless during the replacement of the wornparts. By making the spigots removable and arranging the valve beneathto seat on the lower face exteriorly of the cone, I can employ removablevalves and spigots and also make the area of discharge opening,adjustable by hand to compensate for wear, without interrupting theoperation of the cone.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 shows a vertical, sectional view of the lower portion of thetank fitted with a swinging plate carrying a plurality of removablespigots. i

Fig. 2 shows an inverted plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 shows a view, similar to Fig. 1, with a ball valve carriedremovably on a lever arm and seating against the lower, outer end of thespigot.

Fig. l shows a vertical, sectional view of a complete device, includingthe removable and adjustable spigots, a ball valve capable of removaland adjustment, and automatic mechanism for controlling the position ofthe valve.

A cone-shaped tank 10, of any suitable form such as is used inclassifiers, slime separators, slime thickeners and the like, has itsapex provided with a cone-shaped. casing 11, the lower end of whichcarries a flange 12. Pivoted upon the flange, by

means of a bolt 13, is a plate 14 in the shape of a sector, which platehas two sockets shouldered at 15 to receive each a spigot 16, the latterbeing provided with a flange 17 resting upon the shouldered portion ofthe socket. These two spigots have discharge orifices 18, each of adilferent size, and either may be moved to position beneath the open endof the cone in register therewith. The sector has the opposite ends ofits arcuate portion provided with hooks 19 to cooperate with a clampingbolt 20 carried by the flange 12, diametrically opposite to the bolt 13and when one of the spigot-s is in operative position beneath the openend of the cone, the adjacent hookshaped member is engaged by theclamping bolt 20, whereby the plate is retained in position.

By reason of the shouldered socket in the plate 14 to receive theflanged spigot, said spigots are easily removable when the plate isswung from beneath the flange 12 of the casing 11. Therefore, newspigots may be substituted for worn ones or other spigots with differentsized orifices 17 may be made use of, whereby to vary the volume ofdischarge from the cone. Also the spigots may beremoved and the fullsize of the opening in the cone taken advantage of for discharging thematerial therefrom.

While it is within the purview of my invention to employ the removableand replaceable spigots without valve mechanism of any kind, merelymaking use of the different sized spigots in the same plate to regulatethe discharge, I may, and preferably do, employ in association therewitha valve of a type to be easily replaced and so arranged as to offer noobstruction to the swinging movement of the plate 14:.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4:, this valve may comprise a ball 21,preferably of rubber or other elastic material, supported by a pin- Itle 22 removably carried on the intermediate portion of a lever arm 23,the latter tulcrumed at one end on a bracket 24c formed upon the-casing11 and havin its opposite end arranged to receive suitable operatingconnections. The ball valve 21 is rotatable upon its pintles to exposenew surfaces for wear against the spigot 16 and is readily removable forreplacement or to permit non-interference with the discharge from thespigot, the lever arm at this point being made in two bowed parts 25.

, As shown in Fig. i the ball valve 21 may be seated in a socket 26formed upon the lever arm, said socket being provided with an opening topermit the pulp and slime to pass through when the ball is removed. inthis form the ball. may be'turned in any direction to present newsurfaces to wear. Also in this form I have shown the lever arm .23connected to and operated by automatic mechanism 27, similar to thatshown and described in my Patent No. 1,1 17 ,356, issued July 20, 1915.Obviously a disk may be substituted for a ball,-such disk being maderemovable and its position changed without interfering with theoperation of the cone or swinging plate, and other changes in theconstruction and arrangement of the several parts herein shown anddescribed may be employed without departing fromthe spirit of myinvention as disclosed in the appended claims.

The purpose of varying the size of the spigot is to proportion thevolume or" discharge of solids in accordance with their rate ofsettlement, as otherwise a condition will exist where if the pulp beunusually thin and the rate of settlement of solids consequently slow,the volume of discharge will be too great and result in carrying offliquid and suspended particles at the bottom in stead .of the top of thetank, and, on the other hand, if the pulp be thicker than usual thenormal size spigot will clog-up or fail to discharge with sufficientrapidity.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim anddesire toisecure byLetters Patent is- 1. A separating and classifying device for pulpcomprising a settling tank having a discharge orifice at its bottom,means for supplying a continuous stream of pulp to the tank, the solidparticles settling to the bottom of the tank and escaping through theorifice therein and the liquid and suspended particles overflowing thetop of the tank, and means for varying the size of the discharge orificefor proportioning the discharge of solids in accordance with their rateof settlement, said means comprising a holdercarriedby-the tank, and aplurality of spigots of varying sizes removably car 'riedby the'holderand movable each into position beneath the discharge orifice.

2. A separating and classifying device for pulp. comprising a settlingtank having a discharge orifice at its bottom, means for supplying acontinuous streamof pulp to the tank, the solid particles settling tothe bottom of the tank and escaping through the orifice therein andtheliquid and suspended particles overflowing the top of the tank, andmeans for varying the size of the discharge orifice for proportioningthe discharge of solids in accordance with their rate of settlement,said means comprising a swinging holder carried by the tank, and aplurality of spigots removably carried in said holder and movable eachinto position beneath the discharge orifice, the spigot or spigots notin use being-exposed for removal and replacement without disturbing theoperation ofthe one in use.

3. A separating and classifying device for plup comprising a settlingtank having a discharge orifice at its bottom, means for supplying acontinuous stream of pulp to the tank, the solid particles settling tothe bottom of thetank and'escaping through the orifice thereinand-theliquid and suspended particles overflowing the top of the tank, andmeans for varying the size of the discharge orifice for vproportioningthe discharge of solids in accordance with their rate of settlement,said means comprising a swinging holder carried bythe tank, and aplurality of spigots removably carried in said holder and movable eachinto position beneath the discharge orifice, said spigots, by reason oftheir removability, being each replaceable by one :of a different sizeand those not in vuse at any particular time being exposed for removaland replacement without disturbing the operation of the-one in use.

4. Aseparatingand classifying device for pulp comprising a settling tankhaving a discharge orifice .at its bottom, means for supplying acontinuous stream of pulp to the tank, the solid particles settling tothe bottom ofthetankand escaping through the orifice thereinandtheliquid and suspended particles overfiowin the top of the tank, andmeans for varying the size of the discharge orifice for proportioningthe discharge of solids in accordance with their rate of settlement,said means comprising a swingingv plate carried by the tank and providedwith a pluralityofsockets, and a spigot removably inserted in each ofsaid sockets and movable into position beneath the discharge orifice,the spigot or spigots not in use being accessible from thetop to o. Aseparating and classifying device comprising a tank having a dischargeorifice its lower end, a sector plate carried by said tank and pivotallconnected thereto at the angle opposite to the arc and provided withhooks at the opposite ends of the arc to engage with clamping means onthe tank, shouldered sockets in the plate, and flanged spigots removablyseated in said sockets, each of said spigots being movable into registerwith the discharge orifice of the tank when the adjacent hook is broughtinto engagement with the clamping means.

6. A separating and classifying device comprising a tank having adischarge orifice at its lower end, a holder to removably receivespigots of different sizes whereby to vary the area of said dischargeorifice, a le ver arm below the spigot and connected with the rank, anda ball valve carried by said lever arm and adapted to seat against thespigot, and close the aperture therein regardless of the size of thesame.

7. A separating and classifying device comprising a tank having adischarge orifice at its lower end, a holder to removably receivespigots of different sizes whereby to vary the area of said dischargeorifice, a lever arm below the spigot and connected with the tank, and aball valve carried rotatably by said lever arm and adapted to seatagainst the spi ot, whereby to permit its position to be changed topresent a new surface for contact with the spigot.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

CHARLES ALLEN.

WVitnesses:

A. H. SWETT, E. SHAW.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, 7 Washington, D. 0.

